When it comes to investing in your health there are two things that help everyone across the board. They are nutrition and stress reduction. Most of us don’t realize just how damaging stress can be to our health. Here is the thing, we all deal with stress in our daily lives. But have you ever noticed that some of the most successful people seem almost stress-free? Often it can be a sore issue for those of us struggling to manage and deal with our never-ending stress loads. What if I told you that the key to success was how you personally dealt with stress on a daily basis? I am sure there are those of you out there that are more than skeptical which is why I am going to challenge you. 

What’s Really Going On Behind Closed Doors

Did you know that almost every health-related issue can be traced back to stress? When our bodies are under stress they release a number of hormones into our bloodstream: Cortisol, Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, Corticotropin-releasing Hormone, to name a few. These hormones trigger a cascading effect on a long list of additional hormones (Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone, Ghrelin, Leptin, Melatonin, Dopamine, and Serotonin to start). When Cortisol levels increase due to stress our bodies kick into high alert which can be extremely beneficial for our health in short bursts. Unfortunately, due to our fast-paced lifestyles, we experience excess amounts of Cortisol inducing periods. As a byproduct, our bodies start to attack themselves and begin to break down.

The Natural Solution

Luckily, there are tons of ways you can naturally lower your stress with little to no work. Some of my favorites include the foods you eat, meditation, exercise, essential oils, supplements, teas, and more! In fact, one of my favorite ways to reduce stress is by starting with the right mindset. Now, I know what you must be thinking, but let me assure you where the mind goes the body will always follow. This means that if you are constantly focused on all the things that can go wrong then you are more likely to have things go wrong. Do you remember those hidden picture games we all played when we were kids? Most of us didn’t see the dolphin-shaped palm leaf until we were asked to look for it. Negativity works in a similar way, the more you look for it the more you will find. Luckily, the same can be said of positivity and all the amazing things that come with it! Here are some helpful tips to keep your eyes on the prize.

Daily Affirmations

People want to feel positive. However, negativity can gain too easily a foothold in our lives and can start to dominate our perspective.  Changing your mindset starts with changing your thoughts because the health of your mind has a direct impact on how you approach your life.

Changing a mindset has the same challenges as changing a habit. The first step is the hardest because it is difficult to change what we are used to. However, steady, constant practice for at least 3 weeks can help ingrain that new change in our routine.

Below are few things to help influence positivity in your daily life: 

Purpose of Life

Everyone has a purpose, but it is up to you to either figure out what it is or to give yourself a new purpose. Too many people are just wandering around. When you know exactly what it is you want to accomplish, or where you want to go, you can be more intentional and focused about your life. This encourages positivity because, in spite of any challenges or setbacks, you are able to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak, that goal you are aiming for.  It also helps give you a bigger picture of your life, instead of focusing on the small trials we deal with every day.

Helping Others

We tend to compare ourselves to people who are far ahead of us. However, the key to positivity is to look back at the people who are less fortunate than you and reach back to help them up. It makes you appreciate what you have, where you are, and where you have been, and there is an indescribable sense of satisfaction in helping another person on their journey.

Focus on Positivity

We too often focus more on what we don’t have rather than on what we have. Humans need to learn from the honeybee, which is only attracted by sweetness, even if it is found somewhere dirty. We need to take a few minutes a day to reflect on the positive things in our life. It also does no good to dwell on negative worries.  Many times the things we lie awake worrying about never come to fruition.  If they do, there is usually very little chance that we could have prevented it. 

Positive Expectations

No matter what we are going through in our present, we need to be positive about what’s next to come. Everything is temporary. If we are positive in our actions and efforts, that positivity will transform our thoughts and have a positive impact on how we approach things in the future. 

Constant negativity makes us forget that we are in charge of our lives, and we can decide how to live them. Every day is ours and we can set the tone for it. Start each day with a positive affirmation that you are in charge of your life. You may see small changes when you depend on others, but you will see major changes when you take on the challenge yourself.

Positive thinking has a ripple effect.  It can have an impact on your health, your spirit, and the people around you.  It can bring joy and confidence. Practice your positive thinking a little each day, and watch your world blossom.

-Dr. Dee

No Time Like The Present

Keeping your body free of toxins and free radicals is necessary to maintain a healthy life and a healthy mind. Add any of these foods to your regular diet to help your body with its critical detoxifying processes. If you are looking for a safe and all-natural way to detox your body at home be sure to check out my Balancing Abundance Program. Because detoxing is so important and realistically everyone should be doing it on at least a seasonal basis I have taken the time to put together a program to help you do just that. Here’s the thing, I know working with me one-on-one can seem difficult to get into (due to limited space) and I wanted to be able to give everyone an additional solution that has no limits. You deserve to be happy, healthy, and successful at everything you do so here are some recipes to help set you up for success!

Coconut Truffles

Gluten-free vegan makes 12

• 2 Tbsp Agave Syrup
• ½ cup Condensed Coconut Milk
• 3 cups Shredded Coconut Flakes
• 2 Scoops SNAP Greens Powder

Directions:

In a large bowl combine milk, coconut, and syrup. Stir the mixture until combined this will be very sticky I suggest prepping your next station before rolling them into balls. Pull out two baking sheets with non-stick preventative of choice. I like the silicone mats because you can reuse them and I don’t have to worry about flavor changes. Pour your greens out onto a dish that you can roll the truffles into. Next, with clean hands take 1 Tablespoon of the mixture and roll into a ball. Once the ball is formed roll into the greens and place onto the baking sheet. Repeat until all of the mixtures is gone. Place the truffles into the fridge or freezer to set up (1-2 hours for the fridge, 15-30 minutes for the freezer) and enjoy!

Banana Smore’s Cookies

Gluten-Free Vegan Makes 12 Cookies

• 2 Ripe Bananas Mashed
• 1 Cup Gluten-Free Oats
• 1/2 Cup Vegan Marshmallows
• 2 Tbsp Almond Butter
• 1/2 Cup Vegan Dark Chocolate Chips

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Once ingredients are combined, transfer to a baking sheet that has been pretreated with a non-stick option of choice. I use silicone mats because I can reuse them, and I don’t have to worry about adding any additional oils. Cookies will not expand very far when baked. However, to ensure structural stability, I suggest making smaller cookies. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until marshmallows is nice and toasty. Remove from heat and cool on the tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. They are great frozen too!

Roasted Butternut Squash Masen Jar Salad

Gluten-Free Vegan Serves 3

• 1 1/2 Cups Roasted Butternut Squash Chopped
• 3 Cups Lettuce of Your Choice (a suggested blend of spinach and arugula)
• 1 1/2 Cups Roasted Sweet Potatoes Chopped
• 3 Cups Cooked Quinoa 
• 6 Tbsp Toasted Sunflower Seeds
• 1 1/2 Cups Roasted Zucchini Chopped
• 2 Tbsp Olive oil

Tahini Dressing:

• 6 Tbsp Tahini
• 3 tsp Agave Syrup
• 6 tsp Lemon Juice
• 1/8 tsp Sea Salt
• Water to Thin

Directions: 

Chop up all of your squash, zucchini, and potatoes tossed in olive oil. Place vegetables onto a baking sheet and roast at 400 degrees in the oven until tender (20-30 minutes depending on your oven). Remove from oven and let cool. In the meantime start to assemble salads. In a small bowl combine all ingredients for the dressing and mix well. Using 32-ounce mason jars assemble with the dressing first. Then a layer of the roasted vegetables. Followed by the lettuce mixture and topped with seeds. Seal the jars and when ready to eat simply shake the jar and enjoy!

Need A Hand?

A happy and healthy life is closer than you may think. We all have to deal with our health daily, and when we don’t feel our best, it shows. If you are tired of just making it through your day, you NEED to start investing in your health today! You are not alone on this journey. If you ever need any help, I am always here to do just that. Even if it is something as small as acting as a sounding board, do you have any questions or concerns I can help you with? Feel free to contact me directly at [email protected], or you can even book a one-on-one call with me. Be sure to subscribe to gain access to tons of free goodies and check back daily for more great recipes and information!